We value the partnership between our school district and your family in providing the best educational experience for your child(ren). We want to inform you about recent changes in how you receive communication from your child's teachers, coaches, and club sponsors.
These changes stem from recent updates to state law, specifically Chapter 1006.1494, Florida Statutes, which is now in effect. This law is designed to protect students' online personal information. It limits the collection, use, and disclosure of student data by operators of educational websites, services, and apps. Additionally, it imposes data security requirements that school districts like ours must adhere to. Furthermore, we must comply with state and federal laws governing student records and Chapter 119, Florida Statutes, which is our public records law.
To meet these legal requirements, our school district must work with vendors that enable us to comply with records retention requirements and data sharing/confidentiality agreements. The individual use of various communication apps by teachers, for which the District does not have a legally vetted contract, does not allow us to meet these requirements.
We fully understand the importance of timely two-way communication between teachers and families. To address this, we are actively researching product solutions to help us achieve this goal while ensuring compliance with all legal requirements. We have sought feedback from our teachers regarding apps they have experience with or would like permission to use, as well as the specific features that are important to them.
We acknowledge that this transition period is not ideal and want to assure you that we are committed to providing a districtwide solution that meets our teachers' needs while complying with all applicable laws. We appreciate your patience and support as we work through these changes. We remain committed to creating a safe, nurturing learning environment for students and encouraging timely, transparent communication between schools and families.
Thank you for partnering with the Martin County School District for your child's education. Together and with patience, we can successfully navigate these changes and continue to provide an excellent educational experience for your family.